SO2 capture using nanostructured materials: Recent developments, challenges, and future outlooks

The release of air pollutants from anthropogenic sources is the main cause of several health and environmental problems. Thus, the development of efficient and cost-effective approaches to capture toxic gaseous pollutants such as sulfur dioxide (SO₂) is becoming imperative as environmental awareness increases and regulations get more stringent. Nanostructured materials such as metal organic frameworks (MOFs), zeolitic imidazolate frameworks (ZIFs), carbon-based nanomaterials, transition metals and their oxides, and layered double hydroxides (LDHs) are attractive options for removing SO₂ from gaseous streams due to their unique properties including large surface area and adjustable pore size, which result in their high efficacy in SO₂ capture. This review article provides a comprehensive overview of recent developments in SO₂ capture using these nanostructured materials. After a brief introduction to the topic, different characterization and synthesis methods for the above-mentioned nanostructured materials have been briefly reviewed. Additionally, different recent studies of capturing SO₂ using these nanostructured materials have been thoroughly discussed. Temperature, pressure, humidity, and the presence of other gases are all investigated as factors influencing the effectiveness and selectivity of SO₂ capture. Furthermore, issues and challenges emerging from the applications of these nanostructured materials for SO₂ capture have been highlighted. This article also proposes future research work, including integration, synergistic effects, and the production of hybrid materials, among others, to enhance the SO₂ adsorption process. Accordingly, this review article could serve as a reference source for assessing and, subsequently, enhancing and optimizing the performance of nanostructured materials for effective SO₂ capture.